"Arrow" is The CW's No. 1 show this season, and with ratings currently on an upward trend, it seems more people are tuning in every ... Show More »

"Arrow" is The CW's No. 1 show this season, and with ratings currently on an upward trend, it seems more people are tuning in every day. But just in case you're not one of them, we wanted to remind you just what you're missing, and why you should be parked in front of your TV on Wednesday night at 8 p.m.

The show has something for everyone, whether you're a die-hard comic book aficionado, a sucker for great action sequences, or just somebody who likes to watch good-looking people stare longingly at each other. Click on through our gallery, and then make sure you catch up before the next new episode airs. You can thank us later.

Oliver Queen is not Clark Kent, as evidenced by the very first episode, when he doesn't hesitate to kill a man in ... Show More »

Oliver Queen is not Clark Kent, as evidenced by the very first episode, when he doesn't hesitate to kill a man in order to protect his secret identity.

Sure, he likes to give unsavory characters the chance to make amends for their crimes, but if they dare cross him again, he's not a merciful enemy. His priority is to prove that his father, who killed himself so Oliver could live and right the family wrongs, did not die in vain. He takes it all very seriously.

We do see the softer side of Oliver when he's with what's left of his family and friends, as he struggles to reconnect with the world that kept turning while he was gone. He's damaged and plagued by PTSD, and the writers have gone to great lengths to make him extraordinary, but keep him human. It makes for a lead character who is extremely flawed but absolutely worthy of investing in. « Less

Oliver's buddy Tommy Merlyn (Colin Donnell) seems relatively innocuous now -- sure, he's a bit entitled, but he's got good intentions and he trusts Oliver. Still, it's no secret that in the DC comics lore, Merlyn is the name of Oliver's greatest nemesis. There are few things we love more than an angsty bromance spiraling into violent hatred and certain tragedy.

Note: This is a photo of Donnell and Amell, not Tommy and Oliver. No evidence suggests that Oliver Queen is a Kings fan. You know, just in case that'd be an issue for you. « Less

4/16

3. Kaitlin Cooper, still getting high:

Let's be honest -- "The O.C." went off the rails toward the end, and its only saving grace was Kaitli... Show More »

Let's be honest -- "The O.C." went off the rails toward the end, and its only saving grace was Kaitlin Cooper, played to bratty perfection by Willa Holland.

Now, Holland is underage-boozing it up on "Arrow," and we've never loved her more. The contrast between Thea's lighthearted banter with Oliver and her tendency to look for love in all the wrong places makes for a compelling character -- who has some very cool storylines coming up.« Less

5/16

4. No damsel in distress disguised as a heroine:

Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy) is not your average woeful doe-eyed girl caught in the middle of a ... Show More »

Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy) is not your average woeful doe-eyed girl caught in the middle of a love triangle. This show is about adults, and she leaves the teen drama behind by being a hero in her own right.

As a lawyer, Laurel is smart and driven -- and she's got a few surprising moves that help her defend herself when she ends up in harm's way. It's already clear that her destiny does not involve being anybody's damsel in distress, even if becoming the comic books' Black Canary is a ways away. « Less

6/16

5. Life's a beach:

If you're missing "Lost," the frequent flashbacks to Oliver's time on the island will totally quell your cravin... Show More »

If you're missing "Lost," the frequent flashbacks to Oliver's time on the island will totally quell your cravings... with the added bonus that they actually make sense. The insight to Oliver's five years of turmoil offers a fascinating glimpse at his transformation from a selfish, broken, and traumatized man to a passionate vigilante -- and they also give Amell a chance to show off his acting chops as he deftly visits Oliver in various stages of grief and growth. « Less

7/16

6. This is what he looks like shirtless:

Listen, we just praised Amell's acting and his character a whole lot. We earned this moment of sham... Show More »

Listen, we just praised Amell's acting and his character a whole lot. We earned this moment of shameless objectification.

When Oliver begrudgingly accepted Diggle (David Ramsay) as his new bodyguard, we never thought he'd become his par... Show More »

When Oliver begrudgingly accepted Diggle (David Ramsay) as his new bodyguard, we never thought he'd become his partner in anti-crime. But every hero needs a sidekick -- and Oliver happens to have the best sidekick of all the heroes. Diggle calls Oliver out on his nonsense and keeps him (relatively) grounded in reality when he teeters on the edge. Also, he has really, really nice arms. « Less

9/16

8. Who doesn't love epic romance?:

While we're being all swoony, let's talk about Oliver and Laurel's epic love! They dated b... Show More »

While we're being all swoony, let's talk about Oliver and Laurel's epic love! They dated before he got stranded on the island, but things went south when Laurel found out that her sister was sleeping with Oliver -- and, oh yeah, died while doing it. Literally. Despite his transgressions, Laurel can't help her feelings for Oliver, and he's spent five years pining for her. All that emotion led to a scene where she caressed his scars and then they kissed while crying. Obviously, they still can't be together, because it's only Season 1, but we're totally 'shipping it. Hard. « Less

10/16

9. Fandom-friendly guest stars:

The show's bosses are as geeky as we are, as evidenced by their nerd-bait list of awesome guest stars. It ba... Show More »

On the subject of Seth Gabel's character, we can't wait to see what kind of havoc he'll wreak on Starling City. He'll first be introduced when Thea gets her hands on a dangerous new drug called Vertigo, distributed by The Count. While he starts off as your usual lowlife drug dealer, his interactions with Oliver -- who obviously has personal reasons for eliminating him -- will turn The Count into a supervillain. Oliver is creating his greatest nightmare. How cool is that? « Less

12/16

11. Girl crush alert:

One of the most delightful surprises of the series has been Felicity Smoak, a snarky young woman who works in the IT depart... Show More »

One of the most delightful surprises of the series has been Felicity Smoak, a snarky young woman who works in the IT department at Oliver's family empire company. Played by relative newcomer Emily Rickards, Felicity's awkward nerdiness has quickly made her one of our favorite characters. She's smart, witty, and more importantly, not afraid to question authority (or at least give it one heck of a side-eye). Here's hoping that the powers-that-be love her as much as we do, because the more Felicity, the better. « Less

Unlike previous superhero stories we've seen, "Arrow" takes place in a universe where no special superpowers exist. Hallelujah!

Oliver is extraordinary because of his athleticism, coordination, strategy, and keen observational skills -- all of which he gained through tireless training on the island. The lack of magical powers allows "Arrow" to honor its source material while still taking creative liberties that make it feel new, even to the most die-hard fan. Even familiar comic book characters are given a special "Arrow" twist, and the story stays grounded and dark. It's like "Batman Begins," on TV. With less growling. « Less

14/16

13. LOLs:

Even with all the gritty dark edgy anger happening, Arrow makes room for plenty of comedy. Part of what makes Oliver interesting is tha... Show More »

Even with all the gritty dark edgy anger happening, Arrow makes room for plenty of comedy. Part of what makes Oliver interesting is that he seems to show everyone in his life a different face. His public persona is a wisecracking, sarcastic bad boy who lives his life in search of the next moment of fun. The dude had a jail-themed party while he was on house arrest awaiting a murder trial. It was awesome. « Less

15/16

14. Action sequences fit for a Queen:

The CW may not have an HBO budget, but nobody is cutting corners when it comes to the brilliant action sequ... Show More »

The CW may not have an HBO budget, but nobody is cutting corners when it comes to the brilliant action sequences here. Stunt coordinator James "Bam Bam" Bamford deserves major props for combining artistry, athleticism, and some crazy engineering to orchestrate some of the coolest, most surprising face-offs we've ever seen. It helps that apparently there's nothing that Amell can't do with his body. « Less

16/16

15. Seriously, look at him.:

Abs so nice, they're on the list twice. Oops! See you on The CW, Wednesday nights at 8 p.m.